Plaiting machine



June 9, 1931. L. E. MCDONOUGH PLAITING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s LAWRENCE E. 'MGDQNDUGH,- or @cirimso, runners I PLVAITING-I MACHINE Applicaticn filed April 2o,

This invention relates to 'plaiting machines of the type having means for gripping, the cloth or fabric, an-a advancing itloetween a pair of co-operating pressure rolls for creas ing it to form plaits; and more particularly the invention-resides in the'provision of cer-i tain novel improvements in amachine of this character for thepurpose of-obviating dentalor improper creasing or impressions In: the fabric due to buckling such as frequently takes place adjacent a hem. The primary ob ject of this invention is to provide m'ea ns' for automatically relieving the pressureonthe rolls as the loosely folded fabric is advancedtherebetween. Anotherohyect res des in the provisicn of means for automatlcally separating the rolls in timed relation to the advancing of the fabric'the'rehetween. A further object resides in the provision of ad ustable means for varying'theamount of separa ion of the rolls for-accommodating'tlie va riations in thickness of the fabricbeing It consists in certain feaworked upon. tures and elements of construction, in combination as herein shown I and indicated by the claims.

In the drawings r Figure 1 is an elevation of a chineembod-ying the present invention."

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transplaiting Ina-- verse sectional View through the pressure rolls taken as indicated at line 2--2 on Figure Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear'view illustrating the actuating connections for separating the rolls. I r l A Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2,'ex

ceptshowing the rolls in' separated relationl Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrat ing the position the fabnc 1s aptto assumewhen advanced between a pair of fixed cooperating pressure rolls. 1

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View illustra e ing the position that thelooselyfoldedfabric is permitted to assume by relieving the pressure between the rolls, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view looking up at the operating linkage for varying the extent of separation of the rolls. 1

' Figure Sillust'ratesa modified construction I described; as

= w 16, extending upwardly from the upper ends f the frames 11.;- Positioned" at the for- 1929. seriai'no. 356,?55.

wherein only the spring pressure on the rolls isrel-ieved in timed relation to the feeding or at van'cing of the cloth therebetween; and

Figuret) is a view similar to Figure 8, except showing therolls separated by the thicknessof the clothes it is advanced therebetween i i 'The plaiting machine embodying-the pres ent invention is designedifor forming the various f sizes and typesof plaits, such as side piaits, box plaits and combination plaits; It maybe understood Jthatthe-machine in general operates in a manne'r similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 328,476, filed December 26,1928.

' The machine includes a supporting base, lO,having a pair of end frames, 11, in which are mounted a pair of vertically spaced cooperatingpressure rolls, l2 and 13. These rolls are provided at their ends with trun nions or stud shafts, 14, the trunnionsof the lower roll,'-l3 being jo'urnaled inthe end frames, 11, while those of the upper roll, 12, are j ournaled in rectangular'guide blocks, 15, which are vertically sli'dable in guidew'ays,

ward side of the rolls'are the cloth-gripping members or knives, '18, which extend substantially the length of the rolls, and which are adapted to be reciprocatedand rocked so as to grip the cloth and under-tuck or over-tuck it ash; is advanced'between the pressure rolls for creasing, and thus forming plaits.

I These cloth-gripping members are connected in the usual way at their ends to depending links, 19,'the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to pitmans, 20, having their opposite ends formed with eccentric straps,

20?, mounted on the power or take-off shaft, 22,1adj acent'its hearings in the end frames 11;

The meansfor adjusting'the throw or extent of reciprocation of these cloth-gripping memi hers forms no part of the present invention, and a detail description thereof is .unneces sary q i Mounted on the trunnions, 14, of the pres sure rolls at one end are a pair of intermeshed gears, 25, by means of which rotation is trans-' mitted from one roll to the other, and

mounted inwardly of the gear, 25, on the trunnion of the lower roll, 13, is a ratchet wheel, 26, with which co-operates a pawl, 27, carried at the forward end of a horizontally reciprocable link, 28, which is pivotally connected at its rear end to a block, 29. The block, in turn, is pivoted at 30 to a depending crank arm, 31. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the crank arm is a pitman, 32, which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the driving disk 21. It will now be manifest that the pressure rolls are rotated for advancing the fabric therebetween in timed relation to the reci rocation of the cloth-gripping members. t will be understood that the block, 29, may be arranged for shifting the pivot of the link, 28, to vary the stroke and regulate the speed of rotation of the rolls, thus controlling the size of plait formation in the fabric.

The upper pressure roll, 12, is yieldingly urged in contact with the lower roll, 13, by means of springs, 35, interposed between the guide block, 15, and the cap, 16, at the upper end of each guide frame, 16, as shown in Figure 2. The lower end of each guide block, 15, is formed with a projection, 36, adapted to be supported on a lever, 37 pivoted at 37*, to the end frame, 11, the opposite end of the lever 37 being pivotally connected to a depending link, 38, which in turn is connected to the upper arm, 39*, of the bell crank, 39, which is loosely mounted on a longitudinally extending shaft, 40, adjacent the end frame, 11.

Said shaft extends parallel to and is positioned above the power shaft, 22, and is fixedly secured at its ends in the end frames, 11. Journaled adjacent the end of the other arm, 39", of each of the bell cranks, 39, is an inwardly extending tapered roller, 42, as shown in Figure 3. Co-operating cam-wise with the surface of each rolleris a longitudinally extending pin member, 43, mounted for axial movement in a block, 44, rigidly secured to and rotatable with the power shaft, 22; said pins having tapered ends, 3". Thus, as the pins, 43, are rotated with the blocks, 44, their tapered ends, 43", engage the periphery of the rollers, 42, and act as cams to swing the bell cranks, 39, upwardly about the axis of the shaft 40. These axially movable pins are reduced at the inner ends and engage undercut concentric grooves formed in stationary blocks, 45, mounted on the shaft, 22; being formed with heads, 43, to hold them captive in said grooves, 45, but permitting their rotation with the blocks 44. The blocks, 45, are pivotally connected by oppositely extending links, 46, to the opposite ends of a lever, 47, which is pivoted at 48 to a rigid bearing block, 49, which serves as a journal bearing for the main power shaft, 22, and is firmly secured by a bracket, 50, to the shaft, 40. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever, 47, is

a link, 51, which is pivotally connected. at 52 to an operating lever, 53. It will be apparent that by means of the cam-operated linkage just described, the upper roll, 12, may be raised against the reaction of the springs, 35, in timed relation to the advancing of the loosely folded fabric by the gripping members, 18, so that the fabric is permitted to assume a natural or freely looped position, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6.

Immediately upon completion of the feeding stroke of the gripping members, the upper pressure roll is permitted or is caused to be moved toward the lower pressure roll, thus forming the crease at a predetermined position with respect to prior creases. It will be manifest that the fabric as it is under-tucked or over-tucked to be folded to form a plait is not constricted by contact with the upper roll as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5, but is permitted by assume a natural contour resulting in a smooth fold. By means of the linkage above' described and by manipulation of the operating lever, 53, the pins, 43, may be adjusted to move their tapered ends, 43", axially along the rollers, 42, to vary the effective roller diameter. This permits separation or raising of the upper roll by different amounts with respect to the lower roll, allowing accommodation to fabrics of various textures and thickness.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modified construction wherein the pressure on the cooperating rolls is relieved in a slightly different manner than above described. In this construction the lever, 38, is connected at its upper end to a curved link, 60, which directly supports the lower end of the spring, 35, and is pivotally connected at 61 to the guide, 16. An intermediate portion of the lever, 60, extendin below the spring, 35, is in contact with tl ie guide block, 15, and transmits the spring pressure to this roll for urging it downwardly into contact with the lower roll, 13. In this arrangement the linkage serves to temporarily oppose and totally relieve the spring pressure from the upper roll, 12, in timed relation to the feeding of the fabric, thus permitting said upper roll to rest only by gravity on the lower roll, which creates a floating effect to accommodate the thickness of the fabric as it is advanced in folded form between the rolls. Manifestly when the thickness of the fabric increases, as when folded to form a plait, it will force the upper roll upwardly. However, it is to be understood that substantially at the instant when the loosely folded cloth is fed into the bight of the rolls, the linkage releases the spring so that the additional pressure may be exerted on the upper roll, urging it toward the lower roll and thus insuring sharply defined creases for plait formation.

I claim 1. In a plaiting machine, a pair of coopcratingpressurerolls, cloth-gripping mem-' bers o arranged to reciprocate adjacent the;

entering a side of the rolls for cover-tucking or; under-tucking the cloth toform plaits, and

means for relieving the pressure between the s n. timed ela ion to th e ipr a en. oil the cloth-gripping memberf f to admit the loosely folded clot h.

a 1 p' ngma hin, r l jf ape erating pressure rollsarranged oneabOVe the other, the upperroll being ,yieldingly urged, toward the lower one, cloth-gripping -mem-f1 bers arranged to reciprocate: ad-jacent the entering side of thelrolls for -overtuck1ng or under-tucking -the cloth to iorin. plaits,

and means for momentarily lifting the-upper roll in timed relation to the reciprocation of. to a m e sure between the rolls as the loosely folded cloth is advanced into them. i

4. In a plaitingmachine, a pair of cooperating pressure rolls mounted one above the other with spring means urging the upper roll against the lower one," cloth-gripping members arranged toreciprocate adjacent the entering side of therolls for over-tucking or under-tucking the cloth to form plaits, and means momentarily relieving the effective, spring pressure on the upper roll to facilitate entering the loosely folded cloth between the rolls without crimping or buckling it.

5. In a plaiting machine, a pair of coop} crating pressure rolls, cloth-grippingmem bers arranged to 'IQCIPI'OCELEB ad acent the entering side of the rolls for over-tucking or under-tucking the cloth to form plaits, and means for separating the rolls in timed relation to the reciprocation of the cloth-gripping members, to admit the loosely folded cloth, the said means being adjustableto vary the amount of such separation. r

' 6. In a plaiting machine, ap-ai-r of cooperating pressure rolls geared together, a retary power member, cloth-gripping members mounted for reciprocation adjacent the entering side of the rolls for over-tucking or, under-tucking the cloth and advancingit in loosely folded form into the rolls; actuating connections between said rotary power member and said grippers, bearings for one of the rollers movable for separating the rolls, and cam-operated linkage connecting said bearings with'said' rotary power member forgmoving the bearings in timed relation. to the cloth-gripping members, for separating thezrolls momentarily to admit the loosely folded 010 1 Q ,7.Inja pl aitingmachine, a pair of ver- 'tice l'ylpee r i oper n p e e r connections between said rotary power mem ber-,and said grippers; spring means urging the upper ,roll against the lower one, and

meansvactuatediby said rotary power mem- V beer for ra sing the upper roll againstthe reaction of the, spring means in synchronized relation to the movement of the grippers, to facilitate enteringthe loosely folded cloth between therolls',said actuating means being adjustable or varying the amount of separation ,of the rolls. r

8. In a pla iting machine, at pair of cooperating pressure rollsgeared together, a rotary power member, cloth gripping members mounted for; reciprocation ad acent the en tering side of the rolls for over-tucking or under tucking the. ,eloth and 1 advancing it in loosely foldeditorm into the rolls; actuating connectionsbetweenthe rotary power member'andsaid grippers; actuating connections between the rotary power member and the rolls tor separatingthe latter in timed relationto the movement of thegrippers to facilitate entering the loosely folded-cloth between the rolls, i and ,aetuati-ng connections between thelrota ry powermember and the rolls for rotating theesamein timed-relation to the separation of the rolls andthemovement of n a pl ni g mac ne, a p r of pe ating rolls, cloth gripping members arranged to reci-procate adjacent the entering side of the rolls v for -overr-tucking or under-tucking the-cloth to formplaits, a power source ineluding apowertake ofi" shaft, actuating" con-- nections between the power source andthe] grippers; and actuating connections between the power take ofishaft and the rollsfor separating ithe;latterqto -admit the loosely folded cloth therebetween g-in timed relation to the movement" of the grippers,said roll actuate ing connections comprising a bell crank cam means including a lateralextension onthe;

outerendofpne arm Of;S 3.1Cl bell cranlnand 1 acooperating rotatable member on the power shaft eng geablewith said'extension for actuating the bell crank; and. linkage connectingithe bell crank to one of the rolls.

' 10. In theeombination defined in claim 9,

said cam means being' arranged for step by step adjustment for varyingthe amount of separation ofthe rolls.

A 1}1-.'Ina plaitingemachine, a pair of co operatingjrolls', cloth gripping members arranged to reciprocate adjacent the entering side of the rolls for over-tucking or undertucking the cloth to form plaits, a power source including a power take off shaft, actuating connections between the power source and the grippers; and actuating connections between the power take off shaft and the rolls for separating the latter to admit the loosely folded cloth therebetween in timed relation to the movement of the grippers, said roll actuating connections comprising a bell crank cam means including a lateral projection on the outer end of one arm of the bell crank, having a cam surface inclined to the axis of movement of the bell crank, a block fixed on the power shaft, a pin carried by said block and co-operating with said cam surface of the extension for moving the bell crank, linkage connecting the bell crank to one of the rolls, and manually operable means for shifting the pin along the inclined cam surface of the extension for Varying the amount of separation of the rolls.

12. In a plaiting machine, a pair of cooperating rolls, cloth gripping members arranged to reciprocate adjacent the entering side of the rolls for over-tucking or undertucking the cloth to form plaits, a power source including a power take off shaft, actuating connections between the power source and the grippers; and actuating connections between the power take off shaft and the rolls for separating the latter to admit the loosely folded cloth therebetween in timed relation to the movement of the grippers, said roll actuating connections comprisin g a bell crank having oppositely extending arms, roller means loosely ournaled on one of'said arms, and having a plurality of different diameters, a block rotatable with the power shaft, a pin axially movable in said block and adapted to engage cam-wise with roller means for moving the bell crank, linkage connecting the other arm of the bell crank to one of the rolls, and means for shifting the pin for selectively engaging different diameters of the roller surface for separating the rolls by various amounts.

13. In a plaiting machine, a pair of cooperating rolls, cloth gripping members arranged to reciprocate adjacent the entering side of the rolls for over-tucking or undertucking the cloth to form plaits, a power source including a power take off shaft, actuating connections between the power source and the grippers; and actuating connections between the power take off shaft and the rolls for separating the latter to admit the loosely folded cloth therebetween in timed relation 60 to the movement of the grippers, said roll actuating connections comprising a bell crank having oppositely extending arms, a lateral projection on one of said arms'having a tapered cam surface, a block rotatable with the power shaft, a pin axially movable in the block and adapted to engage the lateral pro-,

jection for moving the bell crank, linkage connecting the other arm to one of the rolls and means for axially adjusting the pin with respect to the tapered cam surface of the projection for varying the amount of separation of the rolls.

14. In a plaiting machine, a pair of cooperating pressure rolls, a rotary power member, cloth-gripping members mounted for reciprocation adjacent the entering side of the rolls for over-tucking or under-tucking the cloth and advancing it in loosely folded form into the rolls; actuating connections between said rotary power member and said grippers; spring means urging one of the pressure rolls toward the other, lever means arranged to compress said spring means for relieving the effective pressure between said rolls, and cam-operated linkage connecting said lever means with the rotary power member to effect such relief in timed relation to the movement of the grippers to facilitate entering the loosely folded cloth between the rolls.

LAWRENCE E. MCDONOUGH. 

